Bring a friend initiative.....

[mikeyboy]

To support this I was considering bringing my daughter and 2 little grandsons to today's game. The boys are both under 5 and one would be bringing a colouring book and crayons rather than watching the match. But the cheapest price in the seats for us today would be £68. The same as if the boys were 16 and that's too much in the circumstances. I really do feel that Walsall's family ticket idea is the way forward, which would be £42.
Anyone agree?

[NobodyGood]

Agree

[swaddy Dave]

Yes.

[NobodyGood]

Further agree after our poor attendance again...

[Deleted]

I do mostly agree, but they do have many more seats than us and can afford to have a whole stand as the family stand. Family tickets have been mentioned at the fans fora, I guess one of the problems is where to put them, we don't generally have problems selling out (at full price) the home seats.

[uttoxbrewer]

Agree, and I've said it before and I'll say it again - and before I start this is not the fault of anyone at BAFC - but the Football League have seriously got to look about the way they schedule fixtures.

The Brewers were at home on 6th and 12 September. They did not have another home game for another 17 days (Sheff Utd Tuesday) and another home game 4 days later (today). We then don't have another home game for another 17 days (Crewe 20th Oct) then another home game 4 days later (Port Vale 24th Oct). And then potentially another home game for another 3 weeks (Millwall).

I'm sorry but people don't have the amount of disposable income to spend the amount of money Mikeyboy mentions in his post to watch 2 days of football in 4 days and I feel this is a massive contributor to some of the low attendances witnessed thus far this season.

Rant Over.

[Deleted]

and Derby were at home yesterday. when they are away we get more in.

[dovecliff]

I totally agree something should be done to encourage the family to come as a unit to a game. I've been thru with this situation also mikeyboy as a parent wanting to take his young sons to watch there local football team. It wasn't so bad at Eton Park since my youngsters could find somewhere to watch the game ( not always tall enough to look over the hoardings ) and if they got bored, which when very young happened most games they would go off into the corner of the ground and play football with a crushed coke can. Considering we could always stand the pricing was acceptable. Going to the Pirelli was a different story, again there were height issues, not so easy for youngsters to watch the game , having to get them near an emergency exit point. If it was a big game I felt I had no option but to buy seats with fear the boys would get hurt or not even see the game. Buying seats every game just wasn't sustainable on a regular basis. Then you go thru the next phase when they go over 17 / student tickets. Even standing tickets took a jump in price and since they are still students ( not earning any money ! ) I would be funding this also. OK, I was able to manage this but I understand lot's can't.

My two boys are now 23 and 19 and albion season ticket holders. Albion is their club, they have been on the journey going from the Unibond / Dr Martins to present, they no longer choose Albion the Albion tugs on them to go and watch games. Appreciate it's not an easy fix and I'm sure from watching these young teams walking around the ground at half time the club is trying its best to get the youngsters engaged. But are the club missing a trick? As a rule, these youngsters won't be coming to the game without a parent will they! Getting these youngsters in early is the key for building the fan base foundation ( like my two boys are now).

So after a long winded explaination I totally agree with you Mikeyboy. How this is implemented I'm not really sure, as funky mentions, the seats are probably always going to be a premium. As for your 5 year old standing to watch a game, yep did that at Eton Park, will be a potential nightmare at the Pirelli.

As for getting youngsters in, I would even consider for example x2 under tens foc with a full playing adult. Capturing the single parent and grandparent. Just throwing the idea out there, no consideration on logistics, on what the club offers at the moment or loss/gain of turnover from such an experiment.

COYB's

[Deleted]

What about a row of seats along the front of the standing areas restricted to under tens so that mum or dad can stand behind to keep an eye on them whilst watching.

[NobodyGood]

Or a family standing section then parents etc could just rearrange to have kids behind one another

[Deleted]

My mate brings his 7 year old occasionally. They come in the west terrace with me and they bring a foldable stool. Right up against the hoardings, stand on top of the stool, jobs a good 'un. Maybe a section at either end of the west terrace with a permanent step or bench to stand on?

Maybe this line of thinking could be brought up at the next supporters workshop thingy wotsit doodah in November?

[NobodyGood]

Stalls given to kids would be good but probably some health and safety issues there...!

[Deleted]

I've been bringing a friends 11 year old lad for the past few weeks, all his relatives support the sheep, over the weeks he has obtained an Albion hat, scarf and then on his birthday a new Albion shirt, I took him to his 1st away game at Chesterfield and he is now Albion through and through, so much so I am taking young Harry to Walsall next week. If you get your ticket from the Walsall ticket office as a paying adult you can get a free under 12 ticket ! Something there for us to look into I feel.
See you all at the Bescot.

[dave]

When I used to go to the Baseball ground in the 1960's there used to be an enclosure for children, which was called the boys enclosure and was very cheap to get in.

[Deleted]

Oct 4, 2015 15:52:40 GMT dave said:

When I used to go to the Baseball ground in the 1960's there used to be an enclosure for children, which was called the boys enclosure and was very cheep to get in.

That's the kind of thing required, preferably in the "Brookend" where they can join in. A small enclosure there would be ideal but not sure of the practicalities with toilets, refreshments etc.

[dave]

It was fenced off and a steward would only let children in, and also you had you own turnstile,but you could get out to go to the toilet etc.

[Deleted]

There was a long debate on this issue on FB a couple of weeks ago in which I partook. Sparked as it happens by Walsall's cheep pricing. Well that will be the cheap pricing that is £19.50 for adults and £14.50 for under 18s, no student prices, not £5 for under 16s as at the Albion.

The problem with pricing is that everyone wants one that suits their circumstances.

My father-in-law stopped coming because he could get a cheaper senior ticket at Derby.

Overall we get fantastic value at the Albion. Could we do better for families? - Yes, I think we could, I just hope we can acknowledge that we do get a fantastic deal in a small stadium where it is simply not logistically easy to fit in a family area with seats (for those who want them) and standing for those who don't.

[Deleted]

Oct 4, 2015 12:52:44 GMT NobodyGood said:

Stalls given to kids would be good but probably some health and safety issues there...!

The stewards haven't got a problem with them at the moment...

[Norah]

It seems some clubs agree..

www.bescotbanter.net/2015/10/v-burton-albion-bring-friend-for-fiver.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bescotbanterfeed+%28Bescot+Banter%29

[Deleted]

From a post on FB...

"they (BAFC) give Burtons schools free tickets my son has had a couple"